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For mums who have a diagnosed low milk supply, finding ways to boost their milk production can be tough. The best way is to nurse your baby frequently – sometimes with a supplemental nursing system (SNS) – but sometimes this might not be possible. One method that some parents out there have found helpful is power pumping. We’ll split this blog into two parts: first, we’ll discuss what power pumping is and how to do it. Then, in the second half, we’ll look at which Haakaa products can help you out!
What is Power Pumping?
What is power pumping, you might ask? It’s encouraging your body to produce greater amounts of milk in the same way frequent nursing does, but by using a pump. For a couple of days, you’ll find an hour each morning to pump more frequently – similar to the way some babies’ cluster feed. The idea is to encourage your breasts to realise that more milk is being demanded, so they needs to increase their supply. For those using an SNS when feeding their baby, provided you’ve followed your country’s safe breastmilk storage guidelines, this expressed milk can be used as supplemental milk. Before we go further, though, it’s important to remember that power pumping isn’t intended to replace your usual pumping routine, nor is it designed to be done for more than 2-3 days. Finally, you will ideally do this on each side – so having two pumps to hand is a real time saver!
How Does it Work?
So how does it work? As mentioned, it involves taking an hour each day – and while morning is best, whenever you can find the time is fine. Because you’ll be doing it for a couple of days, choose a time you can do each day you’ll be power pumping. The important part of it all is the pumping pattern; you’re going to be mimicking the way a baby feeds when they’re having a growth spurt. As you may already know, milk production works on a supply-and-demand basis – by demanding more, your baby signals to your body to increase that supply. The pattern is fairly simple and is as follows:
Pump for twenty minutes.
Rest for ten minutes.
Pump again, this time for ten minutes.
Rest again for ten minutes.
Have one final ten-minute pumping session.
So, it’s nice and straightforward!
Is There Anything Else I Need to Know?
Keeping hydrated is important in general day-to-day life anyway, but that importance is raised when you’re breastfeeding – add power pumping to the mix and it becomes vital, so make sure you’re keeping your water intake up. Keeping your pumping gear clean and sterile before you start your hour, just like usual, is also critical, especially if you’re planning on using that expressed milk – even if, to start with, you’re only expressing a few millilitres at a time. Haakaa pumps make that process extremely easy, as the Shell, Gen. 1, and Gen. 2 pumps are all a single piece of silicone. While not one piece, the Gen. 3 is just as easy to clean and sterilise. Simply scrub your pumps in warm, soapy water, then pop them into any steam steriliser – easy!
What Do I Need?
When it comes to power pumping, any pump will do – but the Shell Wearable Pump is probably the most convenient option. Because it’s a wearable pump, you can grab two of them, pop one on each side, do your bra back up, and get on with whatever it is you need or want to do. They include an easy-pour outlet on the top, which means once each session is over, you only need to pop out the plug then transfer your milk before getting ready for the next ten-minute round! Even better, if, after you’ve done your 2-3 days of power pumping, you find your milk is coming in enough that you’re now dealing with leakage or let-down, you’ve got a passive collector ready and waiting to go. Either pop it into your bra without using the suction or use a little to hold it in place, then pop out the plug to release it all (though make sure your bra is still on so it doesn’t go falling immediately to the floor!).
For those who have been told they might benefit from using an SNS (and that advice should only come from your lead maternity carer (LMC) or a lactation consultant (LC)), we’ve got you covered there, as well. Our Supplemental Feeding Combo consists of a silicone feeding tube + Gen. 3 Baby Bottle to provide your baby with an extra bit of supplemental milk while your own supply comes in. Get your LMC or LC to teach you how to use it. Knowing that your baby is being well fed while you get the supply issues sorted can be a real weight off many people’s shoulders, and being able to relax, at least a little, is also enormously beneficial when it comes to milk production.
Finally, storing the milk you do express, whether during power pumping or just as part of your regular routine is essential. If you’re using any of the Gen. 1, 2 or 3 pumps, you can store your milk directly in them, sealing them with either the Flower Stopper or Silicone Pump Lid. The other option – and the more practical one for power pumping – is to grab some of our Silicone Milk Storage Bags. With a broad base and neck, they’re easy to fill and clean – and even better, they are completely interchangeable with every Milk Storage Bag and Yummy Pouch accessory, including bottle nipples, feeding spoons and sippy spouts, so they’ll last you far longer than just the time you’re spending pumping.
